Pets 
“For me a house or an apartment becomes a home when you add
one set of four legs, a happy tail, and that indescribable measure of love that we call a dog.
—Roger Caras

Pets, parking and people. These three "Ps" are the source of many problems with condo living. With pets, the developer sets the tone when he writes the original declaration and rules for the condo corporation.

Early declarations
Aside from allowing the removal of nuisance pets, the early declarations were usually silent about pets. It was up to the boards to change the rules regarding pets as the condo matured.

Pets banned

Some declarations ban all pets, including cats and fishtanks. If the restrictions are in the declaration then, aside from service animals, the courts will uphold the ban on all pets.

Pet restrictions
Later condo declarations contained restrictions on the number and size of pets. Examples of restrictions include a limit of only one dog or two cats per unit. No dog could be more than 20 pounds and all pets must be on a leash while in the common elements.

Newer declarations
Newer declarations may have no restrictions on the type and number of pets a resident can own. Developers want to sell their units and since many people want to own pets, the developers will accomodate them.

Some developers moved the restrictions on pets from the declaration to the Rules and Regulations. This can be a trap for dog lovers because they may buy a unit in a new condo building where dogs are allowed and then, as the building matures and the board finds that they have too many issues with noisy or nuisance dogs, they can pass new rules banning all new dogs.

So when Fido dies, he cannot be replaced.

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